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Politics and the English Language

By possum

In 1946 George Orwell published an essay entitled Politics and the English Language.  Orwell's words ring true today as they did more than  60 years ago.

Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way

We hear our leaders misuse and abuse the language on a daily basis.  Common conversation is often reduced to monosyllabic interaction.  The situation may not be dire but we are in deep trouble.
Orwell believed in a cause and effect connection between thought and language.

It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.

But, Orwell tells us, the process may be and must be reversed if we are to have political clarity.

to think clearly is a necessary first step toward political regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional writers

In our time it is broadly true that political writing is bad writing.  Where it is not true, it will generally be found that the writer is some kind of rebel, expressing his private opinions and not a 'party line'...

Even today the same holds true as in Orwell's day.  Look to any political pamphlet or advertisement for examples.

In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defence of the indefensible.

Think "collateral damage" and "aggressive interrogation" or "No Child Left Behind."

Orwell offers a way out for those of who care about writing and language.  Writing with clarity and meaning

is especially concerned with the scrapping of every word or idiom which has outworn its usefulness

What is above all needed is to let the meaning choose the word, and not the other way around.

And for advice 5 simple rules to follow.

1.  Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
  2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
  3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
  4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
  5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
  6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Orwell's intent was not to change literary prose, but rather to encourage

language as an instrument for expressing and not for concealing or preventing thought

His advice stands us in good stead today as we find ourselves  in the midst of a Presidential Election season and at the end of an administration which demonstrates mastery of misuse and abuse of language.

We in the United States need clarity of both thought and of language.  Our children are too often taught masses of facts and too seldom taught to question and to analyze for themselves.  We as a nation seek the easy way out in fine words and hollow phrases.  We must demand better of our leaders if we are to find a rewarding future.

The English language is rich with words to express the deepest of thoughts if we but take the time to use the words to best effect.  The language will continue to suffer if and only if we fail to take action to reverse the course.

Peace.

Full post as published by Never In Our Names on September 28, 2008 (boomark / email).